Five patients with coronavirus who were in critical or severe condition at Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem have fully recovered after just a few days of experimental treatment. In addition, tests have shown that there is no virus in their blood. All patients were treated with Allocetra, a drug developed by Enlivex Therapeutics, an Israeli company specializing in immunotherapy. Allocetra reduces the heightened immune response often seen in patients with Covid-19, which can lead to multiple organ failure and even death. Although physicians must continue to monitor patients for 28 days after discharge to be completely certain, no side effects have been observed in any of the patients. Enlivex Company will proceed to larger scale clinical trials of the drug.
Loss of smell is the main symptom of coronavirus. The University College London (UCL) study clearly demonstrated that loss of smell is a highly accurate, if not the most important, indicator of coronavirus infection. By April, health professionals recognized that loss of taste or smell could indicate infection, and by mid-May it was officially recognized as a symptom of coronavirus. Current guidelines require people with such a symptom to immediately isolate themselves and be tested for coronavirus. However, coughing and high fever have been considered the main symptoms. Now, according to UCL specialists who studied 590 people who lost their sense of smell earlier this year, it is safe to say that loss of smell should be considered the main symptom of infection, even if the disease is mild.
In Paris, as of Monday, the maximum danger level has been introduced due to the spread of the coronavirus. As the French Minister of Health, Olivier Véran, explained during a press conference in the capital and its surroundings, three thresholds necessary for the introduction of the highest level have already been exceeded. One of them is to exceed the level of 250 infected per 100,000 people. At the same time, in France, the number of people infected by the end of Thursday exceeded 13 thousand per day. According to Veran, intensive care units in Paris are already at 30% capacity due to coronavirus patients. The minister emphasized that after the introduction of the highest level of danger, restaurants and bars, which already have to close by 10 p.m. at the latest, will have to be closed, as well as gatherings, even with relatives, will be prohibited.
A partial lockdown has been announced in another European capital – Madrid. Spanish authorities have banned residents from leaving their homes unless absolutely necessary. In this regard, WHO warns that the increase in coronavirus cases in Europe should serve as an alarm signal for everyone.
We explain quickly, simply, and clearly what happened, why it matters, and what happens next. The number of offers should remain: Episodes End of Story Podcast Advertising Information from three independent studies indicates that the rate of increase in the number of people infected with coronavirus in England and Wales has slowed compared with previous weeks. According to calculations by the Office for National Statistics published a week ago, there is one person infected with Covid-19 for every 500 people in England and Wales. And although the number of infected people is still relatively high, the rate of spread has slowed. Experts attribute this to stricter adherence to protective measures, particularly the “rule of six”. Meanwhile, on Friday, the UK government raised its estimate of the R rate, which shows how many people an infected person infects on average, to an average of 1.3-1.6 across the country. Any rate above 1 means the epidemic is still spreading. In the last 24 hours, 6968 new cases of coronavirus have been detected in the UK. 66 people have died. This brings the total number of deaths within 28 days of a positive Covid-19 test to 42268. Authorities in the West Midlands region, which includes the country’s second largest city, Birmingham, have been instructed to prepare for the start of a vaccination campaign by early November. This suggests that a vaccine could be available by the end of the year.
Amazon has confirmed that nearly 20,000 of its employees in the United States have contracted the coronavirus. The company has been criticized for unreasonably risking the lives and health of its employees by continuing to work during the pandemic. However, Amazon’s management insists that the company is fulfilling an important function in delivering goods at a time when many people cannot shop directly in stores. In addition, Amazon says that the infected employees represent only 1.44% of its total workforce, which is 1.37 million worldwide. Amazon has implemented strict social distancing measures, regular temperature checks for all employees, and disinfecting the premises every hour and a half. As of October 16, New Zealand residents will be allowed to enter Australia without mandatory quarantine. Whether New Zealand will do the same remains to be seen. During the pandemic, nearly 2,000 cases of infection and 25 deaths were recorded there. In Australia, 27,000 people have been infected and 888 have died.
Air travel between the two countries was suspended in March due to the onset of the pandemic. However, the resolution currently only applies to New South Wales and the Northern Territory – authorities in other states will decide for themselves whether to lift the restrictions. Although Australian federal authorities insist that domestic and international flights resume as soon as possible to help the struggling economy, the state of Victoria remains under lockdown following the coronavirus outbreak in Melbourne.